Igor Vamos, a political satirist and 1990 Reed graduate, pulled a prank on the school during his commencement speech Monday.

Vamos is one of the Yes Men, a pair of practical jokesters known for impersonating politicians and industry officials. The Yes Men made national news in 2004 when Vamos's co-conspirator impersonated a Dow Chemical spokesperson and announced on BBC the company would pay $12 million to the survivors of a lethal 1984 gas leak in India.

The Reed graduate was true to form Monday, announcing during his speech that he'd learned over breakfast the college planned to divest its $500 million endowment from fossil fuels.

Students have been pushing school officials to do just that all year, and responded to the announcement with a standing ovation.

They'd been bamboozled. The school's trustees are still in the process of reviewing the students' request.

The announcement was accompanied by a faux press release linking to a fake Reed sustainability website. (The Portland Tribune fell for the release.) Reed spokesperson Kevin Myers said Vamos published a second imitation press release with fake quotes hours later denouncing his actions.

Myers said the school didn't know Vamos planned a prank.

"Vamos is a great guerrilla artist and we were proud to have him return to Reed," said President John Kroger said in a legitimate press release from the school. "We appreciate the robust and far-ranging debate that this prank will continue to spur."

The prankster was chosen as the college's commencement speaker by the graduating class.